Game



Oct. 29, 1940. E. w. PETERSEN 2,219,546

GAME

Filed Aug. 18. 1939 SSheets-Sheet l Oct. 29, 19 0- E. w. PETER-SEN GAME3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1939 Oct. 29, 1940. w. PETERSEN GAMEFiled Aug. 18, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet :5

Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES GALIE- Elmer W. Petersen,

Gary,

Ind., assignor to v Bertram Wm. Ooltman, Kenilworth, Ill. ApplicationAugust 18, 1939, Serial No. 290,717

11 Claims.

This invention relates to games and more particularly to games known asChinese checkers.

Games of this type are usually provided with starting and finishingfields and a common playing field therebetween across which the playerstravel to arrive in their respective finishing fields, and the Winner ofthe game will be the individual who is capable of manipulating the movesof his players so as to place all his players first in their finishingfield. It has been observed that interest in this game is soon lost ifit is played too often. This may be directly attributed to studiedattempts on the part of the individuals to select routine paths acrossthe playing field that will sufier the least interference by opposingplayers and place their players first in their finishing field.Consequently, the game soon loses its fascination andwill not be playedoften.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novelstructure that will stimulate interest in a game or" this type andprevent definite routine paths being followed by the players across theplaying field. This is accomplished by causing uncertainty in the playsthat may be made without loss of the players from the game, the purposebeing to permit operation of means upon certain types of plays made,such as jumping two players in one move, that will cause the eliminationof certain players resting in certain playing positions upon the playingfield. Consequently, the number of playersthat may be ejected and hencethe number of players that can be brought to the finishing field willnot be known until the game is completed, the winnerbeing the one whocan bring the greater number of men home. In this manner, the game isexceptionally fascinating and can seldom be twice played the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game of this typehaving apertured playing fields, each aperture representing a playingposition. and means for normally holding the players in these playingpositions until some given move in the game by one of the individualsplaying will warrant actuation of this means. One or more of the playerswill then be dropped through the apertures and caused thereby to beremoved from the playing field and ejected from the game. By providingthis means with apertures spaced in an irregular manner, their alignmentwith the apertures of the playing field causing this ejectment will be amatter of uncertainty each time this means is actuated, and hence, itwill never be known when certain players will be ejected from the fieldand contemplated moves will be thereby destroyed.

. A further object of this invention is to provide a game structure thatis simple and inexpensive to make, fascinating to play and will hold theinterest of the players.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detail description taken in connection with the accom panyingdrawings, which form a part hereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view looking down upon the play- 10 ing field of astructure embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a detail view of an intermediate mem- 15 ber disposed betweenthe playing field and actuating member; y

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the actuating member;

Fig.5 is a plan view of a playing fieldof an 20 alternative embodimentof the invention;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 7 6-6 of Fig. .5;

Fig. '7 is a detail View of the intermediate member used in thestructure shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the actuating member of this alternativeembodiment;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but illustrating apertures thereinthat cover a smaller playing field;

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the alternative embodiment,.a portionoithe tray being omitted;

Fig. 11 is a view of the actuating member that may be used in. theembodiment shown in Fig. 5 to illustrate that its apertures may bearranged 35 to 'align with the apertures of the playing field atdifferent times so as to increase the uncertainty of when players mightbe ejected from the playing field; and

Fig. .12 is a detail sectional view of a modified 40 structure omittingthe intermediate member.

The structure shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings comprises a slightlyraised top member 5, divided into a plurality of starting fields andfinishing fields, and a common playing field therebetween. 45 Thestarting and finishing fields are arranged in opposed relation. Startingfield 6 is opposite to finishing field 1. Starting field 3 is oppositethe finishing field 9. And starting field It is opposite finishing fieldl l. Although thus described, each 50 field is a starting field at thebeginning of the play and becomes a finishing field at the close of theplay. For example, players designated I2 in starting field 8 will travelacross the common playing field l4 and enter field 9 as their finish- 55ing field. Players |5 in field 9 will begin the game with this field astheir starting field. Players |5 will travel across the common playingfield l4 and enter field 8 as their finishing field. The same is truewith players in the other fields. Players l6 will start in field I0 andfinish in field Players I! in field II will finish in field I0. Players58 in field I will finish in field 6. And players I9 will begin withfield 6 as their starting field and finish in field I as their finishingfield. It will be understood that the particular arrangement of thefields may be varied or changed, according to whether a simple or acomplicated game is to be provided. In Fig. l, auxiliary home fields 20are provided in frontof starting and finishing fields 6 to II,inclusive. Normally opposing players will not enter these home fieldsexcept opponent players in the field diametrically opposite the startingfield of any particular set of players.

The starting and finishing fields, as well as the home and commonplaying field, are apertured as indicated in the drawings, each aperturerepresenting a playing position of one of the players l2, l5, I6, l1, I8and I9. If playing positions are apertures, as shown in the specificembodiment illustrated in the drawings, these players may comprisecylindrical bodies of a diameter less than the diameter of the aperturesand of a vertical dimension suflicient to permit a portion of theplayers to project above member 5, see Fig. 2. However, the shape ordesign of these players may be varied in accordance with the design andshape of the apertures or other playing positions that will be used inthe construction of the game.

One form of the invention includes an intermediate member 25 shownclearly in Figs. 2 and 3. Intermediate member 25 may be provided with avertical flange 26, which flange 26 encloses the bottom of intermediatemember 25 and con stitutes means for supporting the structure as a wholeupon a fiat surface. Intermediate member 25 may also be perforated, asindicated at 21 in Fig. 3, the number of perforations provided inintermediate member 25 also depending upon the type of game to beplayed. I have illustrated intermediate member 25 in Fig. 3 withperforations 2'! directly below the area representing the common playingfield of member 5. The surface of intermediate member 25 below the homefields 20 and also below the starting and finishing fields is notperforated. Perforations 21 are preferably of a diameter equal to theperforations in member 5. The players rest upon the unperforatedportions of intermediate member 25 when these players are in theirstarting and finishing fields and in the home fields 2|]. However, whenthese players enter the common playing field M of member 5, they willpass through the apertures thereof and also into apertures 27 ofintermediate member 25.

To prevent these players from dropping through both apertures, means inthe form of a disk 30 is provided below apertures 21, this disk 33 beingpreferably connected at 3| to intermediate member 25, any form ofconnection being suitable. Means 3|! may be in the form of a plate thatis also apertured, say at 32, for the purpose to be presently described.A handle 33 extends from plate 30 to and through a slot 34 in flange 26on one side of the device. Handle 33 may be manually shifted to swingplate 30 back and forth about its pivotal connection 3|. This operationmay be performed when a given type of move of the players is made. Oneexample of move may be a double jump of a player in traveling across thecommon playing field |4. When any aperture 32 moves into alignment withone of the apertures 21, a player positioned therein will drop throughthese apertures and through aperture 32 to the space under the device.In this manner, one or more players will be ejected from the game bybeing dropped out of the playing field when plate 30 is oscillatedthrough movement of handle 33. The exact players eliminated from thegame will depend upon the location of apertures 32 in plate 30. It maybe that any one particular aperture of the group designated 32 may notalign with one of the apertures 21 in intermediate member 25 untilseveral movements of plate 30 are made. In either event, each operationof plate 30 will dispose of a number of players by dropping them out ofthe playing field through the apertures therein that are designed toalign with certain of the apertures 21.

In this embodiment of the invention, plate 30 may be mounted with arather tight pivotal connection so that it may be oscillated back andforth within the limits of slot 34 through which handle 33 projects.

Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, illustrating an alternative embodiment of theinvention, is provided with a slightly dififerent playing field.Starting fields 36 to 4|, inclusive, are similar to starting fields 6 toII, inclusive, these fields likewise becoming the finishing fields atthe end of the game for opposing players in diametrically oppositefields. Common playing field 42 is similar to the common playing fieldshown in Fig. 1, each playing position being an aperture formed in topmember 43. Top member 43 is secured to an intermediate member 44, alsohaving 2. depending flange 45 about its four sides to form a housing inwhich a tray 46 may be disposed. Tray 46 may be secured at far end 41and tilted slightly so that its front portion will extend beyond thehousing through a slot 48. Tray 46 will receive players that are droppedout of the playing field and will permit them to roll forwardly to thefront portion thereof in order to be accessible at any time.Intermediate member 44 may be apertured in the same manner as top member43. There may be an aperture in member 44 for each aperture in thestarting and finishing fields 36 to 4|, inclusive. This is shown indetail in Fig. '7. A different form of movable plate 5| is secured bypivotal connection 52 to intermediate member 44. A series of apertures53 are formed in plate 5| and arranged in such a spaced relation thatthey will align at different times with apertures in member 44 whenplate 5| is moved into different positions. I

In this embodiment of the invention, plate 5| may be provided with meansfor limiting the rotating movement in one direction and in a steppedrelation so that its movement is limited each time it is actuated. Inthe specific illustration, this means is shown to be a series of teeth54 extending downwardly about the periphery of plate 5|. The teeth arearranged in the same direction so that when engaged plate 5| will rotatein that direction only.. This rotation is accomplished by a handle 55carried by the same pivotal connection 52 and extending outwardlythrough a slot 59 in one of the depending flanges 45 in a manner similarto that illustrated in Fig, A detent 56 may be secured at 57 tointermediate member 44. When plate 5| is rotated byhandle 55 engagingone of the teeth 54, detent 56 rides the sloping edge of the 35 to 4|,inclusive, in top member 43 adjacent tooth and drops in front of thistooth to prevent reverse movement of plate 5|. Consequently, movement ofhandle 55 in its slot will rotate plate 5| in one direction, and thenonly by stepped movement. There may be any'number of teeth 54 providedon plate 5|." Plate 5| may be moved very slowly to bring certain of itsapertures 53 into alignment with certain apertures 50 of intermediatemember 44 each time it is moved. Apertures 53 may be located in apredetermined relation with apertures 50, so that any one particularaperture 53 might align with only one or two of the apertures 50 inintermediate member 44 in a complete revolution of mov able plate 5|. Onthe other hand, a single aperture 53 may register with a differentaperture 50 in making a second revolution, or it may register with morethan two apertures 58 in a single revolution. In this manner,individuals playing the game will be unable to anticipate the playingposition which will be cleared of a player therein upon the nextmovement of plate 5|. This uncertainty will stimulate interest and makethe game unusually fascinating. Plate 5|, shown in Fig. 8, may have itsapertures 53 extending outwardly to its periphery so as to align withapertures 50 in member 44 directly below the apertures in the startingor finishing fields Consequently, this arrangement will dispose ofplayers out of these starting and finishing fields in the same manner asout of the common playing field 42. It is obvious that the winner willbe the individual who is able to move the greatest number of playersfrom a starting field across the common playing field and into afinishing field,

Fig. 9 illustrates a plate 65 similar to plate 5| but with apertures 5|located therein to cover only the area of the common playing field. Thistype of apertured movable plate 58 may be used Whenit is desirable onlyto lose players out of the common playing field 42, and not out of thestarting and finishing fields 35 to 4|, inclusive, similar to plate 30shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 illustrates plate 5| provided with twelve teeth 54 whichrepresents twice the number of starting fields. Consequently, plate 5|will have twelve playing positions and each aperture 53 therein willregister with aperture 50 every other position of plate 5|, or six timesin one revolution. If the number of teeth 54 is not a multiple of thenumber of starting and finishing fields, but say an odd number, any oneaperture 53 will register only once with openings 50 in one revolutionof plate 5|. v

In Fig. 11, plate 60 is illustrated for the purpose of showing howaperture 6| may be moved with respect to apertures 50 in intermediateplate 44 without aligning therewith so as to cause loss of players.Locating an aperture 55 with respect to an aperture 55 in this manner isfor the purpose of preventing each aperture 5| from aligning with anaperture 55' in intermediate member 44 each time movable plate 59 isactuated. It may not be desirable to eject the same number of playersfrom the playing field each time movable plate 60 is to be actuated. Forexample, the apertures in these movable plates 35, 5| or may dispose ofonly three playerswhen actuated the first time but may dispose of agreater number of players when actuated the second time. In Fig. 11, Ihave illustrated several apertures 53 in dotted lines to represent thealignment relation that may be provided between these apertures 50 andthe apertures in the movable plate. In one instance, it"may requirethree movements of the plate before apertures 3| will be brought intoalignment with apertures 50.

-In another instance, such. alignment might be accomplished by twomovements of the movable plate. Consequently, every aperture in themovable-plate will not necessarily align with apertures 50 inintermediate member 44 each time the movable plate is actuated.

l2 illustratesa further embodiment of the invention in order to simplifythe structure. Intermediate member 44, shown in Fig. 6, may beeliminated and movable plate 5| may be pivotally connected directly totop plate 43. Such pivotal connection may be obtainedwithout interferingwith any of the apertures in top plate 43 by providing a Ustrap' 3 thatmay be welded to the underside of the top plate 43 between aperturestherein, this U-strap 53 being of a depth toprothe invention hereindisclosed. It willbe understood, however, that the use of theintermediate plate is desirable. It is also to be noted that the typeofgame may be readily vari'edby arranging the fields differently and theplaying positions accordingly. The actuating plate may be variedconsiderably, as shown herein, and still come within the scope of theinvention. The novelty resides inits ability to eject certain playersfrom the playing field each time it is operated', the number of theplayers and their locations differing each time so that individualsplaying the game-cannot successfully anticipate their moves.Essentially, therefore, routinelmoves or paths across the playing'fieldwill be ineffective to place ones players first in the finishing fields.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain thegistof my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge,readily adopt the same for use under varying conditions of service,without eliminating certain features, whichmay properly be said toconstitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items areintended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims.

1. In a game of the class described, a plurality of starting andfinishing fields and a' common playing field therebetween which must becrossed by players in traveling from the starting to the finishingfields, and means for dropping .a predetermined number of players fromthe common playing field upon a given play by any one of the players,said means comprising a member dis posed below said common playing fieldby means of which said predetermined number of players will drop out ofsaid common playing field when 7 said member is actuated.

2.. In a game of the class described, a plurality of starting andfinishing fields and a common playing field therebetween which must becrossed by players in traveling from the starting to the finishingfields, a movable base member'below said common playing field, said basemember Having a plurality of apertures adapted to align with playerspositions upon said common playing field to cause said players when insaid positions to be removed from said common playing field, and meansfor actuating said base member.

3. In a game of the class described, a plurality of starting andfinishing fields and acommon playing field therebetween which must becrossed by players in traveling from the starting to the finishingfields, said fields being defined by a plurality of playing positions inwhich the players will be located during moves made by the players, anda device disposed below saidfields having means adapted to be broughtinto alignment with said playing positions in indeterminate sequence foreliminating one or more players from their said playing positions.

4. In a game of the class described, a plurality of starting andfinishing fields and a common playing field therebetween which must becrossed by players in traveling from the starting to the finishingfields, said fields being defined by a plurality of playing positions inwhich the players will be located during moves made by the players,means for supporting the players in these said playing positions, andmeans for removing the support provided by said means to cause playersin certain of said playing positions to be dropped out of at least oneof said fields.

5. A game of the type described comprising opposed starting andfinishing fields and a common playing field therebetween which must becrossed by players in traveling from the starting to the finishingfields, said fields being defined by a plurality of playing positions inwhich the players will be located during moves made by the players toarrive in their finishing fields first in greatest numbers, andmeansadapted to be operated. each time players move across said commonplaying field by a certain type of play whereby toeliminate a number ofplayers from their said playing positions in said common playing fieldin order to reduce the number of players that will reach said finishingfield, the number and positions of the players when eliminated beingdependent upon said means and the number of times the same is operated.

6. In a game of the type described, a plurality of starting andfinishing fields and a common playing field therebetween which must becrossed by players in traveling from the starting to the finishingfields, said fields comprising a member having an aperture forsubstantially each playing position of the players in traveling from thestarting to the finishing fields, means for supporting the players insaid apertures, said means being apertured at predetermined locationsbut differently from said member, and means for movably mounting saidapertured means below said member whereby upon movement of saidapertured means all or a number of the apertures therein will align withapertures in said member tocause said players to drop out of their saidplaying positions in traveling from the starting to the finishingfields.

7. In a game of the type described, a plurality of starting andfinishing fields and a common playing field therebetween which must becrossed by players in traveling from the starting to the finishingfields, said fields comprising an apertured member having an aperturefor substantially each playing position of the players in traveling fromthe starting to the finishing fields, a second member disposed below thefirst member but spaced a distance less than the vertical dimensionofthe players, and a movable plate below said second member, said platehaving 2. limited number of apertures therein, said movable platesupporting the players in the apertures of said two members until itsapertures align with the apertures of said two members whereupon theplayers drop out of the apertures of the latter and through theapertures of said movable plate.

8. In a game of the type described, an apertured plate representing aplaying field for a plurality of players, a second apertured platespaced from said first apertured plate, said apertures receiving theplayers and constituting playing positions in said field for theplayers, a movable plate below said first and second plate, said movableplate having apertures therein that are spaced in a different relationthan the apertures of said first and second plates, and means foractuating said movable plate in a given direction to bring its aperturesin alignment in an indeterminate sequence with the apertures of saidfirst and second members to cause the players in such aligned aperturesto fall therethrough.

9'. In a game of the type described, an apertured plate representing aplaying field for a plurality of players, a second apertured platespaced from said first apertured plate, said apertures receiving -theplayers and constituting playing positions in said field for theplayers, a movable plate below said first and second plate, said movableplate having apertures therein adapted to align with apertures of saidfirst and second plates, means for rotating said movable plate, andmeans for causing said movable plate to rotate in stepped relation inone direction whereby certain apertures of said movable plate will alignat different times with certain apertures of said first and secondplates to cause players in these apertures to drop thereout of andthrough the apertures of said movable plate.

10. In a game of the type described, an apertured playing field for aplurality of players, the apertures of said field constituting playingpositions for the players as they travel across said field, a movableplate disposed below said apertured playing field and forming asupporting means for the players in the apertures of said field, saidmovable plate having a plurality of apertures adapted to align with theapertures of said field, and means for causing said movable plate torotate in stepped relation in a predetermined direction whereby certainapertures of said movable plate will align with certain apertures ofsaid field to cause players in'these apertures to drop therethrough andout of the playing field.

11. In a game of the class described, a plurality of starting andfinishing fields and a common playing field therebetween which must becrossed by players in traveling from the starting to the finishingfields, and means mounted in cooperative relationship with said commonplaying field for ejecting a portion of said players from the commonplaying field upon a given play by any one of the players.

ELMER W. PETERSEN.

